Sign



Dec. l0, 1.929.

L. HALL SIGN Filed June 19, 1926 Patented Dec. 10, 1929 STATES NPATEN'P OFFICE LEE `HALL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FEDERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC.,

OI' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK i SIGN Application led June 19,

This invention relates to certain novel improvements in illuminated signs and consists of the matters herein described and more particularly pointed out'in theappended claim.

The invention relates specically to what are known as shadow signs, in which an opaque letter, cut out ofsheet material, is supported in front of a white background and by means otillumination within the sian body is caused to presentthe letter to the olbserver as a, sharp, black shadow against the relief of the background.

The object of the present invention is to provide a sign of the kind which is of cheap and economical construction, in which the parts are all readily and easily assembled and in which the background member, the reflectors, and illuminating devices are disposed in such fashion as to produce a superior and improved result.

The many advantages of the invention will appear more clearly as I proceed with my specification.

ln the drawings Fig. 1 is a view representing a front elevation of an electrically illuminated sign made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view representing a horizontal section through the sign in a plane indicated by a line 2*-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view representing on an enlarged scale a vertical section through the sign' Fig. 4 is a detail view representing on an enlarged scale one of the supporting rods for the sign letters and its means of attachment to the background member and to the letter respectively Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the letters with its supporting rod.

1n illustrating the invention, I have shown it as embodied in a double tace sign, with letters appearing on both faces of the sign; but it will be obvious that it is equally applicable to single face signs, wherein the letters appear only on one face of the sign.

Referring now to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings z-10 indicates the sign body. Said body is preferably made of sheet metal and comprises (in 1926.` serial No. 117,033.

the case of a double face sign) two spaced face plates 11-11 and anopen elongated trame 12 consisting of top and bottom members 13, 13 and of end members 14, 14, all attached together in any suitable manner to provide a rigid, sign-bodystructure. Each faceplate has an elongatedfopening 15, pref erably defined as in the drawings by a suitable border 16 which may be painted or stamped inthe face plate along the edge of said opening. 17 indicates a plurality of letters supported in the said opening 15. The letters 17 are of less heightthan the height ot' the opening 15 and are supported by the sign body, as will presently be described, in vertical plane near but somewhat back of theplane of the face plate 10.`

In vertical plane s aced back of the plane of the letters 17 and in the case of a double face signl as illustrated herein) midway be tween the "planes of the two face plates 11 is supported a background member 18.` Said member is prefera ly made of sheet steel and by means of paint or enamel is provided with abright, white, reflecting "surface on both Afaces.` The background plate 18 extends the length ofthe `signbody'and is secured at its ends by means of suitable flanges or otherwise to the lend plates 14,114 of the sign body. Said` plate is of somewhat 4greater vertical heightthan the letter space openings 15 in the face plates 11 and thus extends well above and below the level ofthe tops and bottoms ofthe letters\17.`

'19, 19 indicate elongated, transversely parabolic reflectors at the top and the bottom of the sign body. Said reflectors extend the length of the sign body and are supported therein in any 'convenient manner with their edges closed against the inner surfaces of the Ytace plates 10 at their margins defining the letter space openingsl. 20 indicates a'plurality of lamps located in rows running the length of the sign body and placed respectively at the top and `bottom of the same with their centers of illumination in a line respectively below (in the case of the top lamps) and above (in the case `of `the bottomlamps) the focal axis of the associated reflector 19. `21 indicates the focal Y 2 i y i 1,738,895

' parallel planes inclined towards theplaneof'fft'heibackground'member 18,Y as indicatedY bythe dotted lines. Sincefthefra-ys' arevpar axis of the reflectors Vand 22 indicates the line of the centers of illumination of the lamps. By this arrangement, the rays of light from the lamps, instead of being reflected in parallel vertical planes as would be the case if the foci; ofk the reflectors andi tlte, centers; of illumination ofthe lamps' coincided, are in allel, the faces of the member 18 are evenly illuminated from top to bottom.

To further provide for even illumination over the entire extent ofthe-facesf of tite.

background member, itk is preferred to get all of? the illuminationv indirectly from the reflectors. T owtliis endv arcuate reflectors l23,'23Iare fiXed'f at Ythe topedgesofthe back;-

vgroundjplajtelf18' in positions',` to block the downwardly directedlight rays ofthe lamps 20 anditofthrowy them back against the para,- bolicref'lectors 19;

rPhe letters 17 are cut `from sheety metal andf areipainted black 'or some other dark color... Each, letter isy supported by oneor more rodsor pins 241 from-the bac round plate18., 'Each'rod 24" is provided at itsend with. a threaded., recess. and( the. letter 1 7 has: asuitable` aperture.26 for screws 27 by means of whichyit issecured totheendvv of a rod 24. The? background member. 18.. is

provided with .Y af plurality of apertures hori- 'I claim as my invention An illuminated sign comprising, a sign body including an open frame, face plates on opposite sides of said frame, a background member located in said body substantially between andy parallel to said face plates, each face plate having a letter space opening opposite said background member, cut-out lettersy supported within said letter s .ace;. supportedzin said sign body in te plane of said background member and .lecated respectively above and below said zontally oppositefthefassdciatedaperturesin i,

the letten plates and theinner ends. of the pins are :secured tot the plate v1,8 by like screws 27g taking through said.v apertures. yThuskare several lettersy 17 comprising tha'sign. are supported by theI backgroundfplate 18,

' Theresult and effect: produced byxthecom structionk thus described kwilli bey apparent; to those familiarwiththeart... The black letters evenlywillumi'nated, brilliant, white; faces of the background member` 18, said: faces ap-v Ywill stand. out inmarked contrastiagainstthe pearing throughtheopeningsinthegcutout Y' lettery and sharply defining said-1 openings i no Vmatter how; small; they may: be. The; letters will thus appear as sharply defined: black shadows on -the' whitebackgrnund late` 18.

Y If' desired? one set v of: lamps*Y may 'es elimi'f natedand azfairly good. resultgmay be prof duced; Again. .only oneV reflector14 andgits associated row ofslights, namelysthatat the 'top' or thatV ata the bottom, mayfvbel usedf` and v the otherI reflector' andi` its r associated*l row-e of lights f may. be omitted; v Y

The sign comprises few parts andiisamani festlyx easily and readily' to beA assembled;

rPhe open spaces between'the letters: and beg tween the-supportingrods` orpins 24" make it possible to conveniently get ati the faces of the backgroundmember182andv ati-:the

purpose `Vof cleaning: them.

-reectingl sur-faces ofthereflectors-:for We 

